Primates May Go Extinct in Near Future due to Climate Change

SUMOTO, JAPAN - JANUARY 18: Japanese macaque monkeys huddle together in a group to protect themselves against the cold weather at Awajishima Monkey Center on January 18, 2014 in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Low temperatures has hit across Japan with more heavy snowfall in February. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)Getty Images

You already know the polar bear population is declining due to carbon emissions — but did you know the world’s monkeys, gorillas, apes, lemurs, and gibbons are in danger of disappearing, too? In fact, 60% of primate species on Earth (excluding humans) are nearing extinction, and 75% have decreasing populations, USA Today reports based on a study published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances.

According to the University of Illinois anthropology professor who co-led the study, Paul Garber, 22 out of the 26 primate species in China, specifically, are endangered. Altogether, 300 of the world’s 500 primates are threatened or endangered. Unless the world focuses heavily on conservation efforts, a plethora of species will disappear over the next 25 years.

"This truly is the 11th hour for many of these creatures," Garber, said, USA Today reports.

The reason for the dwindling numbers? Well, the main one is human population expansion — 5 billion humans live in the same countries as primates. Hunting, habitat loss, keeping primates as illegal pets, and climate change are contributing factors to this serious wildlife issue.

“Most of this has gone on in the past 100 years,” Garber said. He added, “Governments, non-governmental organizations, corporations and citizens have to come together to change business as usual. Now is the moment."

Startlingly, there may be a point where humans themselves may not be able to inhabit the areas where primates aren’t surviving, since we’re polluting the environment so heavily.